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A University of Central Florida researcher monitored Thursday's event and noted a metal identification tag on the reptile's left rear flipper. Turns out the turtle had been tagged in March 2016 by Loggerhead Marinelife Center personnel while she was nesting in Juno Beach.

And she has a name: Vienna.

"We did actually go through a phase where we we were naming turtles after well-known cities around the globe," said Sarah Hirsch, Loggerhead Marinelife Center senior manager of research and data.

Three officers reported to the scene to make sure spectators and beachgoers didn't venture too close to the creature, Weber said.

Leatherback sea turtles are an endangered species. The world's largest turtles, they average 6 feet long and typically weigh 500 to 1,500 pounds, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reports.

Three Indialantic police officers stand by while an 800-pound leatherback sea turtle nests Thursday morning near the Indialantic Boardwalk.(Photo: Courtesy of Jimmy Golian)

"True denizens of the deep, leatherbacks are capable of descending more than 3,000 feet and traveling more than 3,000 miles from their nesting beach," according to the FWC website.

"They can dive deeper, travel farther and tolerate colder waters than other sea turtle species. They eat soft-bodied animals such as jellyfish. Their throat cavity and scissor-like jaws are lined with stiff spines that help them swallow this soft, slippery prey," the website states.

Golian said the Indialantic leatherback did not return to the sea until about one hour after sunrise.

We hit the lottery this morning! One of our team found a nesting leatherback in Indialantic, finishing her nest camouflage and heading back towards the ocean.

They really do look like dinosaurs, don't they? Enjoy a dose of 800 pound turtle goodness!

Kate Mansfield heads the University of Central Florida Marine Turtle Research Group, which monitors beach nesting from Patrick Air Force Base southward to Sebastian Inlet State Park.

"It's not unusual for us to encounter morning nesters on the beach. We see greens and loggerheads, and the very occasional leatherback. But it's kind of a joy — especially with the leatherbacks — to see them," Mansfield said.

"We're right at that northern edge of where the leatherbacks are known to regularly nest. We typically see anywhere from 20 to 50 leatherback nests in the Brevard County Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge," she said.

"And maybe just a handful north of there — which is where this turtle was seen," she said.

Vienna was missing her right rear flipper. Juno Beach researchers noted that old wound when she was tagged in 2016, Hirsch said.

"Those leatherbacks, they take a while to lay their eggs. They're just so big that it takes awhile for them to kind of lumber up on the beach and find the right nesting spot, and then do their thing and eventually leave," Mansfield said.

CLOSE

Sea turtles are protected and nesting season requires all beach lights to be darkened. GINNY BEAGAN/FLORIDA TODAY

After Vienna was tagged in March 2016, she returned to Juno Beach and nested again in April 2016, Hirsch said. The turtle was spotted a third time last month, nesting again in Juno Beach.

"We tag these animals so we can track their movements and learn as much as we possibly can from them. Leatherbacks are very rare in Florida," Hirsch said.

"She's had that (missing flipper) for quite a while. And since we've seen her collectively four times now, we know she's still able to go out there and reproduce and do her thing — even with that injury," Hirsch said.